Business | Champagne lifestyle

Is the luxury sector recession-proof?

Not all high-end brands will lose their shine

May Berthelot wears a white latte ribbed wool with brown buttoned sleeves pullover, a matching ribbed wool midi skirt, diamonds rings, a gold Serpenti ring from Bulgari, a beige leather Birkin handbag from Hermes, during a street style fashion photo session, on March 18, 2023 in Paris, France.
Image: Getty Images

Hermès is a byword for exclusivity. Its signature Birkin bag, one of which sold for $450,000 last year, cannot be bought from the luxury firm’s website or by simply walking into a store. There are neither ads in fashion magazines nor glossy campaigns on Instagram. For the not-so-famous, owning a Birkin can involve a years-long waiting list.

This article appeared in the Business section of the print edition under the headline “Keeping their shine”

From the June 3rd 2023 edition

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